Organizers raise $39M for GOP convention

[July 15, 2008]  ST. PAUL, Minn. (AP) -- Organizers of the Republican National Convention say they have raised $39 million for the September event.

The Minneapolis Saint Paul 2008 Host Committee said Monday it has met a July 15 deadline for raising the money to cover convention infrastructure.

The host committee still hopes to raise more. They're aiming for a total of $58 million to pay for items such as insurance, parking, transportation and a civic event for local residents.

Host Committee CEO Jeff Larson says the goal is to give visitors a "first-class experience."

The group also says it reached its goal of 10,000 for volunteers but is still encouraging more to sign up. Organizers early on struggled to find enough people to volunteer for the convention.

[Associated Press]

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